Ever look out at your yard in the winter and just find it to be too dull? Adding evergreens to your landscape gives it year-round interest and can serve as natural barriers or windbreaks. In this article, we’ll look at five of our favorite evergreens to plant in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan.
Key Takeaways
- Hinoki cypress is easy to grow and transplant, but the species is slow-growing and requires a patient homeowner.
- The Norway spruce does well with Michigan’s cold winters, is perfect for use as a windbreak, and has excellent insect and disease resistance.
- Junipers, depending on variety, have distinct colors that can range from gold to blue to green, helping them pop from the rest of the landscape in winter.
- Boxwoods are ideal shrubs in Michigan because deer do not eat their leaves.
- Yews have dense foliage, are easy to grow, and are tolerant of shade which is uncommon for needled evergreens.
5 Evergreens to Plant for Year-Round Interest in the Great Lakes Bay Region
Plants and trees don’t have to be boring in the winter. In fact, adding evergreen trees to your landscape will bring interest to your yard year-round. Luckily for us in the Great Lakes Bay Region, we have access to evergreen trees that are either native or thrive in the area.
Five of our favorite evergreen trees and shrubs for landscaping include:
Left to right: A potted young Hinoki cypress, photo by Turnasol7; A mature cypress in a park in Bay County, MI.
1. Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
The Hinoki cypress, native to Japan, offers homeowners a sophisticated choice for creating elegant focal points in their landscaping. Its fan-like foliage forms graceful layers that catch light beautifully, creating a natural sculpture in your garden. The deep green needles maintain their color year-round, and, best of all, the tree’s naturally conical shape requires minimal pruning to stay attractive.
Though slower-growing than many conifers, the Hinoki cypress rewards patience with its striking character as it matures. Its reddish-brown bark peels in delicate strips, adding a touch of visual interest during winter. This resilient tree adapts well to urban environments and thrives in the Great Lakes Bay Region’s 6a growing zone.
For best results, plant your Hinoki cypress in a location with partial to full sun and well-draining soil. These trees appreciate consistent moisture but won’t tolerate wet feet, so proper drainage is essential.
While the standard ‘Hinoki’ variety can reach 50-75 feet tall, many popular dwarf cultivars stay under 10 feet, making them perfect for smaller spaces or as accent plants near entryways.
Hinoki Cypress Fast Facts
- Mature Height: 50-75 feet
- Mature Width: 10-25 feet
- Daily Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hours)
- Soil Preference: Well-drained, moist
- Native to Region: No
Photo courtesy of Richard Webb, Bugwood.org.
2. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Many homeowners use evergreens as windbreaks or to create natural barriers on their property. For this job in Michigan, we recommend the Norway spruce. A non-native tree, the Norway spruce has a pyramidal shape that makes it very eye-catching throughout the year.
The tree’s shape gives it a classic Christmas tree look, and this is especially true after snow. The tree’s branches hold on to snow quite well, and the dangling cones look like ornaments on the tree.
Though it hails from Europe, the Norway spruce fairs well in Michigan’s climate. For best results, after you plant it, you’ll want to ensure it gets plenty of sunlight. We also recommend you place mulch around it because it has very shallow roots. The mulch will help conserve moisture and regulate the tree’s temperature. It is also a large tree, so plan accordingly unless you purchase one of the smaller cultivars.
Norway Spruce Fast Facts
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet
- Mature Width: 25-30 feet
- Daily Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hours)
- Soil Preference: Alkaline or acid soil
- Native to Region: No
3. Juniper (Juniperus virginiana)
Looking for an evergreen to plant that isn’t just plain green in the winter? Look no further than the juniper, a versatile plant with a distinct look. Their needles have a silver-blue shade during the warmer months and take on the trademark bronze color in the winter or even bright gold foliage that can brighten up any winter day.
Junipers thrive in many different climates and conditions. They do well in the cold and can stand up to the wind. You can even plant them near streets, as they are quite salt-tolerant and won’t be bothered by occasional salt spray during the winter.
Several juniper cultivars are available in a wide array of colors and sizes. Some cultivars, like the short and stout, ‘Grey Owl,’ or the tall and stately, ‘Canaterii,’ produce small, aesthetically pleasing blue fruit that attracts birds to your property.
Juniper ‘Canaterii’ Fast Facts
- Mature Height: 20-35 feet
- Mature Width: 8-15 feet
- Daily Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hours)
- Soil Preference: Well-drained, moist, dry, or alkaline soil
- Native to Region: Yes
4. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Boxwoods are a very versatile species of shrubs that have become popular throughout the United States. You’ll see boxwoods in many yards thanks to their deer resistance and the many cultivar choices that will fit their space needs.
We recommend boxwoods for smaller yards or to use as a natural barrier to break up a larger yard. There are drawbacks to boxwoods, as they are susceptible to several insects that can cause aesthetic damage to the shrubs and kill their leaves.
PRO TIP: Want to learn about more evergreens with deer resistance? Check out our previous answer to the question from our expert answer page.
Boxwood Fast Facts
- Mature Height: 1-20 feet
- Mature Width: 2-8 feet
- Daily Light Exposure: Partial shade (4-6 hours)
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Native to Region: No
5. Yew (Taxus spp.)
Don’t let their weak deer resistance and outdated pruning practices scare you away from one of landscaping’s most versatile performers. Yews have earned their place as a garden classic, offering functionality and elegance that few other evergreens can match. Their deep green needles and adaptability to both sun and shade make them invaluable for modern landscapes.
What sets yews apart is their unique ability to regenerate from old wood, meaning you can rejuvenate them even after years of less-than-ideal pruning. Yews do their best when properly thinned and not just given a trim.
Whether you let their natural beauty shine or keep their shape structured, their soft-textured foliage creates an excellent backdrop for flowering perennials. Their tolerance of pruning means you can maintain them at nearly any size you desire.
Yews require patience from a gardener, as they are slow-growing. Once established, however, the plants reward patience, as they are drought-tolerant and long-lived. They thrive in well-draining soil and can handle anything from full sun to deep shade, making them perfect for challenging north-facing foundations or dimly lit corners.
Just remember to plant them in areas with good drainage, as they’re one of the few evergreens that can’t tolerate wet feet. Whether you choose an upright variety for screening like the ‘Hicks’ or a spreading form for foundations like the ‘Dense’ variety, these adaptable evergreens deserve a fresh look in contemporary gardens.
Yew ‘Hicks’ Fast Facts
- Mature Height: 12-20 feet
- Mature Width: 5-12 feet
- Daily Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hours) to partial shade (4-6 hours)
- Soil Preference: Well-drained
- Native to Region: No
Frequently Asked Questions About Evergreens in Bay County
Evergreens are the perfect type of plant to create variety and all-seasonal interest in your yard, but many homeowners don’t know much about caring for or planting them. Some of the most common questions we get asked about evergreens in Michigan include:
How long does it take for evergreens to establish their roots in Michigan?
Typically, it takes evergreens around one full growing season to establish their roots. Establishment time will depend on the species of tree and cultivar. Evergreens can be planted during spring, summer, and fall. However, we recommend avoiding planting evergreens during mid to late November as late-fall can be hard on them.
Should I water my evergreens?
Evergreen shrubs and trees can benefit from regular watering after planting. We recommend watering them once a week. Established evergreens will need less frequent watering, but they are prone to drying out in the winter when the wind blows and temperatures dip below 40 degrees. For this reason, watering during dry fall periods before the ground freezes is ideal to provide hydration and prevent wind burn.
How can I prune my evergreens to keep them at a size required in some settings?
While it may sound daunting, we promise that pruning isn’t too challenging once you know the basics. If you need to prune your plants to stay a certain shape or size, evergreens benefit from a pruning technique called “thinning.” Instead of only trimming a plant to the correct shape, it’s important to also “thin” the plant by reaching into the plant and pruning out select branches to provide sunlight to the interior of the evergreen.
If you feel some intimidation looking at a pair of shears, we can help. We can handle the pruning for you and provide numerous resources about pruning trees and shrubs on our site.
Mark your calendars! Join us for our upcoming pruning class on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Stay tuned for updates on future events and classes by following us on social media or subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
Bay Landscaping Can Help Plan and Create the Perfect Evergreen Landscape
Evergreens are versatile and a boon for any landscape. Picking the right cultivars and strategically placing them on your property will help increase interest in the winter. If you need help with getting your landscape just right, we can help.
Our team knows the best way to design and maintain your Michigan landscape. We also have a nursery to help you start your landscaping journey and pick out evergreens to plant. Call us at 989-893-0000 to learn more about how we can work with you to give you the landscape and yard of your dreams.
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